Vehicle



A. M. RANDALL VEHICLE F'iled Feb. 26, 1944 Oct. 31, 1944.

2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VEHICLE A. M. RANDALL Filed Feb. 26,1944 Oct.. 31, 1944n Patented Oct. 31, 1944 UN lT-ED STATES PATENTFFlCgE VEHICLE Arthur M. Randall, Braine oity,1owa Application February26, 1944. Serial No. 524,120 4 anims. (or aso- 116) This inventionrelates generally to' vehicles and in particular to a front gear forwagons, trailers and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved wagon.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wagon having a frontgear comprised of two 'preassembled welded units connected together forrelative pivotal movement by a single king pin extended throughbearingblocks carried within the preassembled units.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision of a lwagon frontgear which is comprised of a pair of welded steel units adaptedto beassembled together for relative pivotal movement by a single king pin.Each unit 'includes a cast 'iron bearing block ,for receiving the kingpin, with the blocks being constructed and arranged suchthat when 'thetwo units are assembled together relative pivotal movement takes place'between cast iron and steel bearing surfaces.

Further objects, `features and advantages of this invention Will becomeapparent from the following description when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is aplan view of the wagon of this invention with thewheels andholsters removed;

Fig. 2 is `a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view as seen along the line 3 3V in Fig. v1.;

Fig. 4 is a sectionalV view on the Fig. 2; g

Fig.` 5 is a side elevational view of the Wagon with a pair of wheelsremoved; and

Fig. 6 is a view partlyin sectionas seen along the `line 6-6 in Fig. .5.

Referring to the vdrawings the wagon of rthis invention isshown in Figs.1 and 5 as including4 a front gear .l `and `a rear gear Il connectedtogether by an .extensible tubular reach 12` comprised of a forwardtubular member 13 in -telescopic engagement with a reduced rear tubularmember I4. The `iront gear l0 includes an axle lwhich is bowed upwardlyover its `central portion as shown in Fig. 6. Extended `longitudinallyoi the .frontaxle .15 is `a-.supporting `member I6 of angle shape havingone .leg I1 welded `to the front side of the axle I andeprojected`upwardly at .leasteto the` top level .ofi the front axle. The

line 4-4 other .leg 1.8 of theangle member `1.1i` is extended forwardlyof the axle :l5 in a substantially hori- Zontalplane. An.extensionmember 19 .of `a. flat form .is weldedto the 'rear-side and atthe top of the upright .leg 1-1` sofas to bein the plane offthehorizontal legmember I8 for a purpose which will `be `later noted. Asclearly'appears froml Fig. 1

the angle member I6V terminates short of the ends of the `axle 15, whilethe extension member `I9 `in turn terminates 'short of the ends of theanglev member 1.6.

Hound members 2l` of an angle shape are 'spaced longitudinally of .andproject forwardly from the angle ,member 16 (Figs. 1 and 5). The rearend portions of the hounds 21 are positioned within the angle ,member"I6 with the horizontal hound legs 22 welded to the `bottom side .of theleg 18 `of (the angle Vmember 1B., andthe rear ends ofthe vertical'hound vlegs 23 Welded to the front .side 4of .the leg "11 of theanglemember 16.

The hound ,legs 22 are thus located in a substantiauy horizontal pieneand are extended in opposite directions from each other so' that an openspace is formed betweenthe hounds '21 `forwardly .ofthe leg 'Ifof theangle memberl. "The space `between thehounds 21 `is adapted to receive awagontongue 24 which Ais pivotally supported on a bolt `26 carried inthe opposite vertical legs 23' of the hounds.`

hounds 21 Vand against `the block 21. Plate 29 is welded to the verticallegs 23`of thehounds and to .the forward end of the leg 'I8 of the anglemember I6. p i Thus as ,clearly appears in Fig. 3 Va channeli shaped.structureis provided between the hounds 21, Vby the plate 29 .andanglemember 16.` The block member 21 isreceived in this channel structure,with its V.end 28 projected from the open side of the channel for apurpose to be later explained. Screw bolts Silare extended through theplate 29 and block `211 and .arethreadahly engaged in the vertical leg,l1 ofthe yangle.member 16 to .hold the block 21 against movement.

A frame .32 Afor supporting the .forward end of the reach member 13 onthe` front4 gear 10 is comprisedvfof a pair of angle members 3'3 and311` .assembledy and welded together to form an elongated box-likestructure which is open at Aits ends. The reach .member 13 is Vrigidlywelded to the rear side of the frame S32 withlthe bottom side oftheframe being movable across the hori- 'zontal table ,surfaceformed by theleg I8 .ofthe angle ,member 'I'6` andthe extension Iii-` As shown inFig. l the frame 32 is of a length substantially equal to the extensionI9 and is normally in a superposed position on the central portion ofleg I8 of the angle member I6. Arms 36 of an angulate form have one end31 welded across an end of the frame 32 and are extended rearwardly andinwardly to the reach frontmember I3 to which they are welded at theiropposite ends 38. The lower sides of the arms 36 are substantially inthe plane of the bottom side of the reach-supporting frame 32. A bracketmember 39 is welded at one end 4I to the bottom of the front reachmember I3 and is bent downwardly and forwardly from the member I3 to aposition below the rear end portions of the hounds 2| for a purpose tobe later explained.

Carried in the frame 32 at its central portion is a bearing block 42having a body portion of a shape corresponding to the cross sectionalshape of the frame 32, so as to be receivable within the frame, andannular portions 43 and 44 projected from opposite ends of the bodyportion. The horizontal legs of the angle members 33 and 34, comprisingthe frame 32, are formed with aligned openings to receive correspondingannular portions 43 and 44, with the-portion 43 being extended outwardlyfrom the frame 32. In the assembly of the frame 32 the block 42 ispositioned between the angle members 33 and 34y before these members arewelded together.

It is thus seen that the front gear IIJ is comprised of a pair ofpre-assembled units, a rst unit including the front axle I5, axle memberI6, hounds 2| and bearing block 21; and a second unit including theframe 32 and bearing block 42. These two units are assembled together bypositioning the angle member I6 between the free or lower end 46 of thebracket 39 and the bottom side of the supporting frame 32 (Figs. 1 and3).v

The two pre-assemb-led units in structures are maintained in thisrelative assembly position for pivotal movement relative to each otherby a single king pin 41 inserted through aligned openings in the bearingblock 42, the leg I8 of the angle member I6, the bearing block 21 andthe end 46 of the bracket 39.

As described above the end portion 28 of the bearing block 21 isextended across the lower end of the leg I1 of the angle member I6, andthe annular portion 43 of the bearing block 42 is projected outwardlyfrom the frame 32. In the assembly of the front gear I6, therefore, theannular portion 43 is in bearing engagement with the horizontal leg I8of the angle member I6, while the end 28 of the bearing block 21 is inbearing engagement with the end 46 of the bracket 39. It is contemplatedthat the angle member I6 and bracket 39 be of steel or like material andthe bearing blocks 21 and 42 be composed of cast iron to provide foriron and steel surfaces being in bearing engagement with each other,

Further the blocks 21 and 42 support the king pin 41 over relativelylong supporting surfaces to eliminate any local wearing in the king pinwhich would otherwise take place adjacent the king pin openings in theangle members 33 and 34 of the frame 32, and in leg I8 of the anglemember I6. Also the king pin openings in the frame 32 and angle memberI6 are prevented by the blocks from wearing into an elongated shape sothat the front gear I is capable of being retained in an uprightposition by the king pin over long periods of use.

As shown in Fig. a front bolster 48 is movably carried directly on thetop side of the reachsupporting frame 32 and is pivotally movablerelative to the frame 32 about the king pin 41 which is insertedtherethrough.

The rear gear II includes a rear axle 49 which is bowed upwardlysimilarly to the front axle I5 as shown in Fig. 2. Adjacent each end ofthe rear axle 49 is an upright member 5I of angle shape which is weldedat its lower end to the axle 46. A at member 52 is extended between andwelded to the tops of the upright members 5I and supports a rear bolster53 which is connected to the member 52 by bolts 54.

As mentioned above the front reach member I3 is rigidly connected withthe rear side of the supporting frame 32. To provide for a relativepivotal movement of the front gear I0 and rear gear II in verticalplanes transversely of the wagon the rear gear is pivotally connectedwith the reach rear member I4 in .a manner now to be described.

Extended between and welded to the flat member 52 and the rear axle 49is an upright plate member 56 having an opening 51 for rotatablyreceiving the reach member I4 (Fig. 4). Retention of the reach member I4against axial movement relative to the plate member 56 is accomplishedby anging the rear end 58 of the reach member I4 rearwardly of the plate56 and extending a pin 59 through the reach member I4 at a positionforwardly of the plate member 56. It is Seen, therefore, that the pin 59and flanged end 58 are adapted for bearing engagement with oppositesides of the plate member 56 to in turn limit the axial movement of themember I4 in opposite directions.

Each of the reach members I3 and I4 are formed with oppositely arrangedopenings 6I and 62, respectively, which are movable into alignedpositions on relative axial movement between the reach members. To holdthe reach members I3 and I4 in an adjusted or relatively moved positiona pin 63 is inserted within aligned openings 6I and 62. concurrentlywith its positioning in the openings 6I and 62 the pin 63 is alsoinserted through a collar member 64 rotatably mounted on the front reachmember I3 for a purpose now to be explained.

A second collar or sleeve 66 is rotatably supported on the reach memberI3 forwardly of the collar 64 and in abutting engagement with the collar64. Braces 68 are rigidly connected at one end to the sleeve 64 and atopposite ends 61 with corresponding end portions of the rear axle 49.vOn movement of the wagon forwardly the rear gear II is moved forwardlyby the abutting engagement of the collars 64 and 66, and on rearwardmovement of the wagon is moved rearwardly by the engagement of the pin59 with the upright plate member 56. With the sleeve 66 freely rotatableon the reach member I3 and the plate member 56 freely rotatable aboutthe rear reach member I4 the rear gear II is freely pivotally movable ina plane transversely of the wagon. A free pivotal movement of the frontgear I0 relative to the rear gear II is accomplished by virtue of thefree rotation of the reach I2 relative to the plate member 56 and thecollar member 66. 'Ihe wheels 69 and 10 for the axles 49 and I5,respectively, are each supported on a spindle 1I which is rigidlysecured to a, corresponding axle in a predetermined relative positionwith an axle.

Although the invention has been described withrespect to a preferredembodiment thereof it is to be understood that it is not to be solimited since modifications and changes can be made therein which arewithin the full intended scope of this inv-ention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

l. In a wagon gear including a front axle, a supporting member comprisedof an angle iron having one leg secured to a side of said axle, and theother leg extended forwardly from said axle and above the top level ofsaid axle, a pair of angle-shape hound members longitudinally spaced onand positioned normal to said supporting member, with said hound membersprojected forwardly fromy said supporting member and located below theforwardly extended leg of said supporting member, each hound memberhaving one leg in a vertical plane and said vertical legs being oppositeeach other, and the other legs of said hound members being extended inopposite directions to provide an open space between said hound members,means for securing said other legs of said hound members with the bottomside of the forwardly extended leg of said supporting member, a blockmember located within said open space adjacent the one leg of saidsupporting member, a reach-supporting frame pivotally movable across thetop side of said forwardly extended leg, a block member carried withinsaid frame and extended therethrough, and a king pin extended throughsaid two block members and the forwardly extended leg of said supportingmember.

2. In a front gear for a wagon, an axle unit including a, front axle, asupporting member of angle shape having one leg secured to the frontside of said axle and projected upwardly to at least the top level ofsaid axle, With the other leg of said supporting member extendedforwardly from said axle, a pair of hound members of angle shapeprojected from said one leg of the supporting member and beyond theforward end of said other leg of the supporting member, each of saidhound members having a first leg secured to the bottom of said othersupporting leg member, and a second leg positioned in an upright plane,with said second legs being opposite each other and said iirst legsextended in opposite directions to provide an open space between saidsecond legs forwardly of lthe other leg of said supporting member, abearing member removably secured between said second legs at the rearend portions thereof, a reach-supporting frame movably supported on thetop of the other leg of said supporting member, a bearing member carriedby said reach supporting frame in contacting engagement with the otherleg of said supporting member, and a king pin extended through said twobearing members and the other leg of said supporting member to pivotallyconnect said front axle unit and supporting frame for relative pivotalmovement.

3. In a wagon front gear, a pre-assembled unit including a front axle,an angle member having one leg welded to the front side of said axle andprojected upwardly to at least the top level of said axle, with theother angle member leg extended forwardly of said axle, a pair ofangleshaped hound members supported in a spaced relation longitudinallyof and normal to said angle member and adapted to receive a wagon tonguetherebetween, with the rear end portions of said hound members beingpositioned against the front side of said one leg and the bottom side ofsaid other leg of the angle member and welded to said two sides, arblock member carried be:- tween the rear portions of said hound membersand projected below the bottom level of said hound members, a secondpre-assembled unit including a reach-supporting frame and a reach, saidsupporting frame being pivotally movable across the top side of said oneleg, a second block member supported on said frame and extended belowthe bottom level of said frame for bearing engagement with the top sideof said one leg, a supporting member projected downwardly and forwardlyfrom said reach to a position adjacent to and below said first blockmember, and a king pin rotatably extended through said two blockmembers, said other leg of the angle member, and said supporting memberto pivotally connect ,said two pre-assembled units for relative pivotalmovement.

4. In a front wagon gear, a pre-assembled unit including a front axle,an angle member extended longitudinally of said axle havingone legwelded to a side of said axle and projected upwardly to at least the toplevel of said axle, with the other leg extended forwardly of said axleand constituting a flat supporting table, hound members spacedlongitudinally of said angle member and positioned normal to said anglemember, with the rear portions of said hound members being welded to andpositioned below the level of said other angle member leg, a rstsupporting means carried between the rear portions of said hound membersand the legs of said angle member, a second pre-assembled unit includinga reach and a reach-supporting frame of a box-like structure extendedlongitudinally of said axle with its bottom side movable on said table,`a second supporting means extended through said frame with its lower endin contacting engagement with said table, a brace member extendeddownwardly and forwardly from said reach to a position below and inbearing engagement with said rst supporting means, and a kingu pinrotatably receivable through said two supporting means, said other legof the angle member, and said brace member to pivotally connectl saidtwo preassembled units for relative pivotal movement.

ARTHUR M. RANDALL.

